Folding crib and play pen



1952 ST. CLAIR- NEWBERN 7 FOLDING CRIB AND PLAY PEN Filed July 14, 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET l cL /R NEW/BERN IN VEN TOR ATTORNEY ST. CLAIR. NEWBERN FOLDING CRIB AND PLAY PEN 2 SHEETS SHEET 2 Jan 22, 1952 Filed July 14, 194'? I nllfirlllllrfiflllltd n. v u d Jzyll.

ST. CLAIR NEl l/BEQ/V INVENTOR TTORNEY v Patented Jan. 22, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT; OFFICE. v

FOLDING cam AND VPLAYZPVEN.

St. Clair N ewbern, FortWorth, Tex-r Appli'cationJuly 14, 1947, Seria1N0. 1760,8151

IOlaim. '1,

This: invention relates to foldin cribs and has particularreference to a combination crib.- and playpen. r a

Anobject of the invention is to provide improvements in constructions of the referred to class whereby a combination crib and play pen for children may be readily folded forcarrying orshipping, or for transportation in an, automobile. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction and' arrangement whereby the paneled sections of a foldable combination crib and play pen are equal in size, and may thereby be interchanged, and for the purpose of simplifying the tooling when fabricating the article on a mass production basis. The foregoing applies not only to the retainin panels which extend upwardly from the mattress supporting members, but also to, the panels for supporting the assembly at its ends.

Another object of the invention is to provide in an article of the described class, a set of extensible auxiliary legs whereby the crib, may be readily converted into a play pen by folding the previously referred to supporting panels inwardly and allowing the assembly to be supported upon the said legs. By reason of the extensible feature of the said legs, the combination crib or play pen may be readily supported inpart upon the back seat of an automobile, and in part by certain of the said legs.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in addition to the foregoing, a restraining cover to prevent a child within the crib or play pen from climbing over the sides of the same.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of an exemplary form .of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a, side elevational view of a combination crib and play pen embodying "the features of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the crib or play pen illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on lines 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of Figure 3 as viewed from a direction indicated by the arrow 4.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary end elevational view and fragmentary section particularly showing the hinged arrangement of the restraining cover and the means for attaching the latter to the side panels of the assembly.

Figure 6 is an elevational view of one Of the extensible legs for supporting the assembly when used as ,a. play pen, or when partially supported by the back seatof an automobile, or similar arrangement. p

Figure 7 is an end elevational view of the combination ,crib' or play pen and showing the same partially supported by the back seat of an auto mobile, the latter beingindicated. by means of dotted lines.

Figure 8 is a perspective view ofa' carrying case in which the foldedassembly may be placed for carrying or shipping.

Figure 9 is a side elevational view of the folded assembly, and which view corresponds with the side shown in Figure 1.

FigllIBIlO is an enlarged vertical sectional view of- Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing details of the mattress supporting member,; one. .of the extensible legs attached thereto, and the upper and lower panels, one for forming an end piece of the assembly, and one providing a supporting panel at the end thereof.

Figure 12 is afragmentary elevational view illustrating the, relative positions of adjoining side panels, and illustr'ating a means for retainingthe said panels in assembled position.

Figures l3'and '14 are .vertical sectional views taken ,on cilines |3-.--|3 'and .I4-l4, respectively, of Figure .12..

In the form of the invention shown, there is adivided mattress supporting member I comprisedofidentical rectangular parts 2 and 3 which are joined along coinciding edges by a piano hinge 4. ach .of the .saidlparts 2 and 3 include, respectively, squareor rectangular supporting surfaces ,5 and 6 provided. with downwardly extend.- ing flanges .1 and 8 around the outer sides of the member I. Similarly, the parts 2 and 3 are provided with upwardly disposed flanges 9 and 10 for locating a mattress l I. These details are best shown in Figure 10. It will also be noted in Figure l 10 .thatthe upwardly disposed flanges 9 and ill are eliminated where the two supporting parts v2 and} .are joined at .the .center of the mattress supporting member I so as to accommodate the mattress II when the crib or play pen is in use.

In the form of the invention shown, the ends of the mattress supporting member I are provided with supporting panels l2 and [3 which are hinged to the downwardly disposed flanges 1 and 8 of the mattress supportin parts 2 and 3. As shown 'in Figures 1, 2, '7, 9, and 10, the

last referred to arrangement is carried out by the mattress supporting parts 2 and 3 and are I secured to the upwardly disposed flanges 9 and 10 in the manner previously described and are pivotally secured in place by means of side hinges 24 and 25. v v

The corners between the side panels 22 and 23 and the end panels [3 and 19 are provided with sprin actuated fasteners 26, as particularly shown in Figures 3 and 4. Each fastener 26 is comprised of a hook-shaped steel spring 21 secured to the side panels 22 and 23, and on the outward surface thereof. A spring latch 28 for coaction with each of the springs 21 is secured to the inner surface of the side panels 22 or 23 and engagesthe rolled edge 29 of the end panels 18 or 19 and is provided with an opening 30 to accommodate the hooked end of the spring fastener 21. The side panels 22 and 23 are similarly provided with rolled edges 3|, and the spring 2'! is shaped to accommodate the same. v When the panels I8, I 3, 22, and 23 are raised, as shown in Figure 1, the adjoining side panels 22 and 23 may be secured along their upper edges by any suitable means, such as an inverted channel or clip 32, as particularly shown in Figure 12. The channel 32 may be provided with indentures 33 and 34 at each end thereof to accommodate the rolled edges 3| of the respective side panels. Preferably, the channel 32 is of a resilient material, and by reason of the engagement described, and the length thereof, the said channels will serve as stifieners for the said side panels. 'Cross sectional details of the last referred to arrangement are shown in Figures 13 and 14. Each corner of the mattress supporting member l is provided with hinged extensible legs, as particularly shown in Figure 6. Each leg is comprised of a relatively short tube 35 having a telescopin inner member 36. The tube 35 is provided with a. longitudinal slot 31 having spaced notches 38 along one side thereof, and the inner member 36 is provided with a laterally projecting pin 39 for engaging the referred to notches 38. By reason of the described arrangement, the inner members 36 may be adjusted to various lengths. The upper end of th tube 35 is supported between opposing brackets 40 having a pin 4| passing therethrough. The brackets 40 are secured to the bottoms of the mattress supporting parts 2 and 3. Any suitable means (not shown) may be employed for maintaining the tubes 35 in either extended or folded positions. As shown in Figures 1, 2, and 5, the assembled crib or play pen may be provided with a restraining cover 42 which is made of separate and op posingly arranged units. Each unit is comprised of a pair of hinged cross members 43 with bars 44 therebetween. The bar members 43 are pivoted relatively near their ends by means of hinge pins 45. The ends of the cross members 43, where they join to one another, are formed at an angle, as at a, so as to define, substantially,

a trapezoid. The outer ends of the cross members 43 are provided with hooks 46 which engage the beads 3| of the side panels 22 and 23. The side panels 22 and 23 are provided with openings 41 to accommodate the hooks 45.

As indicated by dotted lines in Figures 1 and 2, the supporting panels l2 and 13 may be swung upwardly and inwardly, the end panels I8 and I9 may be swung inwardly and downwardly, the legs 35 may also be swung inwardly, and the mattress supporting member i may be folded together along the axis of the hinge 4 connecting the mattress supporting members 2 and 3. The restraining cover 42 is removed before folding the assembly, as described, and it too may be folded to form compact separate units. When thus folded and assembled the entire arrangement may be conveniently packed in a carrying case 48, such as shown in Figure 8. When thus assembled, the mattress II remains substantially in place, as shown in Figure 10.

When desired, the supporting panels [2 and 13 may be folded and corresponding legs 35 on one side of the crib may be also folded so as to support the unit partially upon the back seat 49 of an automobile. When so arranged, the legs of the outer side are extended downwardly to rest upon the floor 50 of the automobile.

The described form of the invention is not restrictive, but may be varied in accordance with the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

,In a foldable crib or the like, a pair of rectangular members adapted to provide a mattress support when arranged in end to end position, depending flanges around each of said rectangular members, a hinge connecting adjoining lower edges of said flanges when said supporting members are arranged as described, and mattress locating flanges projecting upwardly from the ends and sides of the assembled supporting members.

ST. CLAIR NEWBERN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent;

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,060,637 Sawyer May 6, 1913 1,234,798 Pearce July 31, 1917 1,807,234 Brown May 26, 1931 1,961,637 Lindsey July 5, 1934 2,313,834 Mathaus Mar, 16, 1943 

